BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
MBABANE – United States government officials have credited Prime Minister Russell Dlamini’s leadership for strengthening the bilateral relationship between Eswatini and the United States.
The US Embassy in Eswatini pointed to the Kingdom’s successful negotiation of a health agreement worth more than E3.24 billion as one of the tangible results.
During a courtesy call on Prime Minister, Senior United States State Department official Clinton Brown commended the Prime Minister for what he described as successful stewardship of the bilateral relationship, under the guidance of His Majesty King Mswati III.
According to the US Embassy in Eswatini, Brown highlighted the benefits arising from the strengthened relationship between the two countries, including the landmark health Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) secured by Eswatini.
Previous report have indicated that the five-year agreement, covering 2026 to 2030, provides for substantial US support to the country’s health sector, with the United States committing US$205 million, approximately E3.24 billion, over the life of the agreement.
“The United States credits the PM’s successful stewardship, under the guidance of His Majesty King Mswati III, of the bilateral relationship, noting the benefits to both countries,” the US Embassy said.
The endorsement places the health agreement among the key outcomes of Eswatini’s engagement with the United States, particularly at a time when the Kingdom is seeking to strengthen domestic ownership and sustainability of its health programmes.
The agreement is designed to support Eswatini’s healthcare system, with a particular focus on sustaining the country’s HIV response while strengthening health institutions, systems and workforce capacity.
Government has also committed to increasing its own contribution to the health sector by US$37 million, approximately E625 million, over the five-year period. This is intended to gradually reduce dependence on external assistance and ensure the sustainability of programmes after the agreement expires in 2030.
The latest development builds on decades of cooperation between Eswatini and the United States, with health remaining one of the most significant areas of bilateral partnership.
Since 2005, the US government has invested nearly US$900 million in Eswatini, with a substantial portion directed towards HIV and tuberculosis programmes.
The partnership has contributed to major improvements in the country’s HIV response. More than 96 per cent of people living with HIV have received antiretroviral treatment over the past 15 years, while mother-to-child transmission of HIV has fallen dramatically.
The new MoU therefore represents both continued US support and an attempt to place Eswatini’s health programmes on a more sustainable footing.
US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Marc Weinstock previously described the agreement as a new chapter in the two countries’ health cooperation, emphasising its importance to security, prosperity and shared development objectives.
The agreement followed extensive consultations between the two governments, aimed at aligning their priorities and ensuring that the support addresses both immediate health needs and longer-term system strengthening.
Brown’s latest remarks consequently provide fresh recognition from Washington of the role played by the Prime Minister’s administration in advancing the relationship and translating bilateral engagement into concrete benefits for Emaswati.
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